The Heíneken Experience

I love Europe! Last week we watched the open heart surgery and it was so cool. I know for sure now that I want to be a heart surgeon. I can't believe how close we were to an actual beating heart. I'm still in shock. Friday we went to Cologne and I don't even know how to describe the Dom. It was so breathtaking, even though I was pretty scared when we went up into the tower. I managed to take a few pictures even though I was sure I would fall off any second. From Cologne we took the train to AMSTERDAM!!!!! We got a little rowdy on the train, but I hope people thought we were funny instead of obnoxious. We made it to our hotel late that night but still had the energy to stop by a bar before bed.

The next day we decided at the last minute to go on a bike tour. We were going to go shopping first to get some suitable clothes since we were all in skirts, but in the end, we thought it would be fun to go in skirts. My skirt was a lot shorter than everyone else's, so someone suggested that people would be getting the real Heineken Experience as I rode by. This nickname somehow stuck, but I guess its funny, so I don't really mind. The bike tour, despite our lack of proper clothes was so much fun. It's been forever since I've ridden a bike and I can't say I've ever been to a cheese farm. Yeah, we went to a cheese farm and I bought some cheese. We also got to see how wooden clogs were made which was a lot more advanced than I thought it would be. I always kinda pictured this old man sitting there whittling a shoe, but I guess times have changed. The scenery on the bike tour was so beautiful. For the first time I felt like I was in Europe because Amsterdam was mostly what I pictured Europe to look like.

After the bike tour was the Heineken Experience, which I thought was a blast (the three beers we had probably helped). After we were nice and tipsy, we ate dinner and headed over to the Red Light District. What else can I say besides it was scandalous. It was definitely unlike anything I'd ever seen. There were times where I felt a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn't anything too terrible, just drunk men trying to talk to us girls. After about an hour there, we called it a night and headed back to the hotel.

The next day we went to the Anne Frank House. It was incredible. It really hit home how horrible the Nazi party was and how many innocent people were forced to change there entire lifestyle because of the fear of persecution. It was very moving and terribly sad.

I had a really good time this weekend with all the girls and I'm amazed at how fast we are bonding. I feel like I've known everyone for longer than I have...its weird. I'm getting so excited about this week, especially Wednesday! Tchöss!